My weight seems to be inversely related to my bike split. My body feels its 8% fat is sacred and refuses to reduce it. When I do lots of hard biking my legs get huge. I think my 5k running speed suffers a little but my slow running speed stays the same
I think IM athletes are a little heavier than ITU athletes and this is why.
Normal to gain some leg muscle, but likely not a pound a week…
Curious to see if this is a common occurrence or if I am just eating too much. Stopped running 7 weeks ago due to injury, and have been riding the trainer 6-7 days a week. I have put on 5-6 lbs during that time, eating the same as I normally do when running 30-40 mpw. Obviously running for me burns far more calories than cycling, but is this normal? My trainer workouts have been all hard intervals, no easy riding, typically one hour at a time. I do a 15-20 minute warmup and then sets like 15x2:00, 6x5:00, 3x10:00, etc. with one minute rest.
It’s possible that if you went from running outside in cooler weather, to riding on the trainer, you are effectively raising the core temp that you are training at.
This can elicit plasma volume increase, as your body adapts to increased sweating. This would probably only account for 1-3 pounds, but just throwing it out there.
-Physiojoe
– My trainer workouts have been all hard intervals, no easy riding, typically one hour at a time. I do a 15-20 minute warmup and then sets like 15x2:00, 6x5:00, 3x10:00, etc. with one minute rest.
Teach your body to burn fats through *longer *sessions (2-3+ hours each ) at moderate aerobic effort, 2-3 times a week. Cut your ‘hard interval’ workout to only 1-2 per week.
I’ve found that I lose little to no weight now that I ride exclusively. You’ll have to lower your caloric intake if you want to maintain your current weight or reduce it.
Calories burnt on bike of same effort as run will never match as the run has more muscular recruitment.
You are going to need to be doing much longer rides to get the same weight loss effect of running. Also, the type of hard intervals you are doing will likely cause a bit of weight gain due to increased muscle mass. Shouldn’t be 5 or 6 lbs though.
I think part of the issue is that your bike trainer workouts are short. Even though they’re intense, they won’t burn a ton of calories, and it’s possible that with the non-weight bearing nature, you’re burning less calories than you did running, especially given you were running 30-40mpw.
I actually lose more weight for sure when I’m cycling a lot - the difference here is that I know near exactly how much I’m burning on the bike with kJ thanks to a powermeter. It’s the longer rides that really burn the calories, not the short/hard interval stuff that you’re doing. (Just compared the TSS or kJ from a 3hr ride with a lot of steadystate intensity compared to your 1hr workouts - it’ll be nearly 2.5x.)
I don’t do any dieting, but I try not to dramatically increase food intake when I increase activity, so I do get hungry more often. That tends to lower my weight somewhat (not that I can’t significantly improve it from now - I def can!)
Your body also puts on weight during the winter. It’s just seasonal. I wouldn’t be surprised if this and the other factors others have mentioned add together to account for your weight gain. It’s probably not just one thing alone.
Your body also puts on weight during the winter. It’s just seasonal. I wouldn’t be surprised if this and the other factors others have mentioned add together to account for your weight gain. It’s probably not just one thing alone.
I always hate it when November rolls around and my body just starts automatically adding weight.
Thanks for all the helpful responses. I was afraid someone was going to suggest that I do longer rides at lower intensity. Mentally that is very difficult for me with no pm or ct, but I do have a tv with Netflix so I can stream some tv series to pass the time. Also, I have found as others have said in another thread that I can watch tv when riding at a steady effort, but not doing intervals.
Yep, tv, movies, music will help pass time. Wear a HR monitor to keep within aerobic range (if available).
Long moderate sessions have many benefits… 
Just need MOOOOORE biking during your bike focus
The amount of biking one can do is astronomically large.
Curious to see if this is a common occurrence or if I am just eating too much. Stopped running 7 weeks ago due to injury, and have been riding the trainer 6-7 days a week. I have put on 5-6 lbs during that time, eating the same as I normally do when running 30-40 mpw. Obviously running for me burns far more calories than cycling, but is this normal? My trainer workouts have been all hard intervals, no easy riding, typically one hour at a time. I do a 15-20 minute warmup and then sets like 15x2:00, 6x5:00, 3x10:00, etc. with one minute rest.
I think part of the issue is that your bike trainer workouts are short. Even though they’re intense, they won’t burn a ton of calories, and it’s possible that with the non-weight bearing nature, you’re burning less calories than you did running, especially given you were running 30-40mpw.
I actually lose more weight for sure when I’m cycling a lot - the difference here is that I know near exactly how much I’m burning on the bike with kJ thanks to a powermeter. It’s the longer rides that really burn the calories, not the short/hard interval stuff that you’re doing. (Just compared the TSS or kJ from a 3hr ride with a lot of steadystate intensity compared to your 1hr workouts - it’ll be nearly 2.5x.)
I don’t do any dieting, but I try not to dramatically increase food intake when I increase activity, so I do get hungry more often. That tends to lower my weight somewhat (not that I can’t significantly improve it from now - I def can!)
1 hour @ 200 watts burns ~760 calories (200 x 3.6).
He’d have to run 5.5-9 miles (depending on body weight) to burn that each day.
On 30-40 mpw, it doesn’t sound like he was burning more calories running. If anything he’s burning more now.
-Physiojoe
I think part of the issue is that your bike trainer workouts are short. Even though they’re intense, they won’t burn a ton of calories, and it’s possible that with the non-weight bearing nature, you’re burning less calories than you did running, especially given you were running 30-40mpw.
I actually lose more weight for sure when I’m cycling a lot - the difference here is that I know near exactly how much I’m burning on the bike with kJ thanks to a powermeter. It’s the longer rides that really burn the calories, not the short/hard interval stuff that you’re doing. (Just compared the TSS or kJ from a 3hr ride with a lot of steadystate intensity compared to your 1hr workouts - it’ll be nearly 2.5x.)
I don’t do any dieting, but I try not to dramatically increase food intake when I increase activity, so I do get hungry more often. That tends to lower my weight somewhat (not that I can’t significantly improve it from now - I def can!)
1 hour @ 200 watts burns ~760 calories (200 x 3.6).
He’d have to run 5.5-9 miles (depending on body weight) to burn that each day.
On 30-40 mpw, it doesn’t sound like he was burning more calories running. If anything he’s burning more now.
-Physiojoe
You’re assuming his average power (not normalized, or interval average - true average) is indeed 200watts across the hour, and that he also runs fast enough to burn an equivalent # of calories.
While possible, I suspect it’s very likely his true average power on the bike is south of 200 (even if the intervals are 200+, due to rest periods) and that he might not be heavy/running enough to equal in on the run.
Your body also puts on weight during the winter. It’s just seasonal. I wouldn’t be surprised if this and the other factors others have mentioned add together to account for your weight gain. It’s probably not just one thing alone.
I always hate it when November rolls around and my body just starts automatically adding weight.
Yes, but don’t worry because the inverse is true; your body takes off weight during the summer. It’s just seasonal.
haha, try doubling it for a start =)
Geez I thought 6 hours a week in the Winter was a lot of biking, considering the most I have ever put in on a consistent basis was 3 hours per week, with the exception of IMLP. Maybe that’s why I have always been so mediocre on the bike:)
i’ve been doing a similar focus, riding about 5 hours a week, but running 2x and swimming 2-3x.
my weight gain has been similar at 5-6lbs
Jack is a tri guy that doesn’t swim or run anymore so keep his “bike focus” in perspective…
8-10 hrs a week is a good start. 6 hrs counts as maintenance (lol), not really building much imho. if you are only doing high intensity, you will likely see gains, but if you desire to do longer rides at higher paces, you should throw in some longer distance when / where you can.
I find running very efficient at keeping weight at a minimum so your experience does not surprise me…
J
8-10 hrs a week is a good start. 6 hrs counts as maintenance (lol), not really building much imho. if you are only doing high intensity, you will likely see gains, but if you desire to do longer rides at higher paces, you should throw in some longer distance when / where you can.
I find running very efficient at keeping weight at a minimum so your experience does not surprise me…
J
I’d disagree. For a balanced triathlete, 6 hrs on the bike is a pretty good showing, especially if done with power guidelines to keep from slacking into z1. The added run volume of 4-6 hrs on top will keep you progressing unless you’re a very FOP triathlete that’s accustomed to a lot more.